June 21, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Suzanne Ernst (702) 889-8426

National Science Foundation Awards $9 Million
to Nevada to Improve Research Infrastructure

LAS VEGAS, Nevada-Nevada's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) now has considerably more resources to access in its quest to diversify the state's economy and expand the program offerings at institutions within the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN).

With the receipt of a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation-the largest grant ever bestowed on Nevada from the NSF-EPSCoR will now work to enhance the state's science and technology infrastructure, expand program offerings, and increase diversity in the sciences. The funds will be awarded over the next three years through the Research Infrastructure Improvement Award (RII) and will be distributed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Desert Research Institute (DRI), and the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN).

Additionally, the $3 million per year Nevada will receive from the NSF must be matched with $1.5 million per year for three years from the state and the UCCSN. With these matching funds, the total cumulative award will be $13.5 million.

"Clearly, Nevada EPSCoR has played a leadership role in convincing the public and private sectors that the research activities of the UCCSN can be a significant driver of economic diversification in the state," said Karen Sandberg, a representative from the NSF EPSCoR. Sandberg also noted that NSF EPSCoR was equally impressed with the UCCSN's efforts to increase the number of women and minority students and faculty within its institutions, adding that the current proposal will enable the UCCSN to continue in this vane.

"These are exactly the types of efforts that NSF as an agency, and the EPSCoR program in particular, are interested in to increase the diversity of participation in science activities. We applaud their efforts and look forward to learning more about the best ways to improve the success of underrepresented groups in the science and research enterprise," Sandberg added.

Nevada lawmakers were encouraged by the possibilities the grant will provide.

"I am very pleased with Nevada's receipt of a $9 million National Science Foundation award to stimulate competitive research in our state. With matching funds from the state government, our university researchers will be able to pursue some extremely important work," said Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

One such program will be in advanced computing. Scientists may be able to develop new computer models that can be used to understand changes in the global climate from excessive greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide from fossil fuels.

A second project will develop the capacity to use biotechnological approaches to understand how plants, animals, and microbes respond to environmental change. This research should help scientists understand the ecological consequences of global change as well as identify the biochemical mechanisms that organisms use to adapt to stressful environments. Those biochemical mechanisms could provide important clues to the development of new pharmaceutical products.

A third project will enable Nevada to participate in the national nanotechnology effort to develop atomic and molecular scale designs of new materials and devices that will affect every aspect of our lives in the future.

"This grant is a significant increase over past years, and will substantially improve Nevada's science and technology infrastructure. By stimulating competitive research and in-state excellence in the sciences, we are creating the conditions for economic diversification and growth. If we can highlight instate expertise in expanding high-skill fields, such as nanotechnology, Nevada will become an even more attractive business environment for potential employers," said Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.). "This is a truly wonderful opportunity for the state to build its academic infrastructure, and a big step for the economic diversification of our entire state. Since the federal government bases grant increases on successful past partnerships, the University and Community College System of Nevada, as well as EPSCoR and all the participants, should be commended for all their efforts with the program."

The award will assist in the development of the following programs at the following institutions:

• Nanostructured Materials and Devices: $3.3 million to UNLV and UNR
  
• Advanced Computing in Environmental Sciences: $2.9 million to DRI, UNLV, and UNR
  
• Integrated Approaches to Abiotic Stress: $2.5 million to DRI, UNLV, and UNR
  
• Increasing Diversity in Science in Nevada: $1.4 million to CCSN, DRI, UNLV, and UNR
  
• Other Programs including technology transfer: $1.4 million to DRI, UNLV, and UNR

"NSF EPSCoR programs have seeded research programs in Nevada that are now internationally recognized. These include UNLV, UNR and DRI's statewide program in the response of ecosystems to global change, UNR and UNLV research in chemical physics, and UNR's highly rated earthquake and bridge engineering program," said Dr. James Coleman, Nevada's NSF project director. "In this new award, we aim to have this same success in research programs in nanoscience, advanced computing and biotechnology. Our goal with this award is to develop intellectual capital and research expertise throughout Nevada that can foster partnerships between UCCSN and industry to help stimulate the growth of a high-technology sector in Nevada."

The Nevada Board of Regents is the elected, 11-member governing body for the University and Community College System of Nevada. Comprising two doctoral granting universities, a state college, four comprehensive community colleges and one internationally acclaimed research institute, the UCCSN serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, the UCCSN provides educational opportunities to nearly 100,000 students.